Burglar Caught in the Act

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HAZLETON -- Stephen Davis of McAdoo was locked up in Luzerne County on theft, trespassing, and several other charges. He's accused of stealing power tools and other equipment from people's sheds along Meade Court in Hazleton. But he told Newswatch 16 he didn't take anything, and said he was just on his way to work.

Hazleton Police unload can after can, tool after tool, all items they say they found Stephen Davis, of McAdoo, carrying as he walked down Seybert Street in Hazleton. Police say all of it was stolen.

One woman, who didn't want to be identified, says she caught Davis in the act.

"All of a sudden, I see this guy in my neighbors' driveway, and he had a whole bunch of stuff in a wagon and I don't know where he got it from. He looked suspicious to me."

Davis is now locked up in Luzerne County on theft, burglary, trespassing, and other charges.

Neighbors say they caught davis taking equipment from a shed behind this fence, and just a little while later, they saw him across the street, stealing from this shed and hanging out in the driveway.

"Carrying all this stuff at 7:30 in the morning, I couldn't imagine where he was going beacuse he doesn't work around here that's for sure," the neighbor told Newswatch 16.

After the neighbors called police, officers found him about a block away.

Hazleton Police Chief Frank DeAndrea says it's important to have the community help in situations like this.

"Help us help you. Be willing to get involved. We are most gracious to do our part, even at times if means that one of us is risking being injured," said Hazleton Police Chief Frank DeAndrea.

At his arraignment at a Magistrate's office in Hazleton, Davis told Newswatch 16 he's innocent.

"I wasn't trying to take any stuff. Get that camera out of my face. I was walking to work and I got stopped. Simple as that," said Davis.

Davis was also wanted by state police and Pottsville police for trespassing and a probation violation.